Knurling tool



Nov. 2, 1954 c, A L 2,693,122 mumuc TOOL Filed July 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1- A INVENTOR C A. FAUSEL ATTORNEK Nov. 2, 1954 c. A. FAUSEL 2,693,122

KNURLING TOOL Filed July 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

M/VENTOR C. A. FAUSEL ATTORNEY V 9 I c. A. FAUSEL 2,693,122

KNURLING TOOL Filed July 5, 1951 3 Sheets-sheaf. 3

FIG 3 \rzs FIG. 5

70 6.9 7/ @KK m lweurok AT7URNEV United States Patent ()fiice 2,h93,l22 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 KNURLING TOOL Charles A. Fansel, Glen Ridge, N. 1., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 5, 1951, Serial No. 235,190

6 Claims. (Cl. 80-51) This invention relates to knurling apparatus and more particularly to hand operated knurling tools for reconditioning formerly knurled articles wherein the knurled portions have been damaged in handling.

Although reasonable care is usually exercised in handling articles during and subsequent to then final forming steps, occasionally various parts become damaged to the extent that they are not entirely useless but require reconditioning before they can be assembled to form the finished product. i

In the present embodiment of the mvention relay cores are provided with knurled portions intermediate their ends and if these knurled portions become damaged in handling prior to their final assembly, the final assembly of these cores is made difficult, if not 1mpossible. Furthermore, it has been found advantageous to recond1t1on for use cores removed from defective relays.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a knurling apparatus which is simple in structure yet highly efiicient in knurling articles.

With this and other objects in view, the nvent on comprises an apparatus for knurling an article including a rotatable shaft recessed at one end for interconnection with the article so that the article may be rotatedwnh the shaft. A knurling wheel rotatably mounted ad acent the article is driven during rotation of the article with the shaft, a driving means being provided for the shaft normally driven in one direction during the knurling operation but movable in a reverse direction to operate a mechanism to move the knurling wheel free of the article.

In the present embodiment of the invention, three knurling wheels are mounted on like eccentric ends of spindles which are supported for rocking movement in eccentric bushings. The eccentric bushings are ad ustable measured distances to control the distances the knurling wheels are to move into the portion of the article. The spindles for the knurling wheels are normally urged by a mechanism, under the force of a spring, like distances in one direction to uniformly assist in performing the knurling operation. A handle for the shaft carries a camlike disc to move freely in one direction to permit rotation of the article during the knurling operation, a spring pressed pin forming positive connection with the handle when moved in the opposite direction to cause rocking motion of the spindles to move the knurling wheels away from the article, conditioning the apparatus for the removal of the knurled article and the positioning of another article for the performance of a knurling operation thereon.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus, portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the knurling units illustrating the adjustable bushing;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detailed view of the knurled article.

In the present embodiment of the invention the artiagainst the force of the cle to be knurled is a relay core 10 having offset portions 11 and 12 near one end thereof and a portion 14 at the juncture of the portions 10 and 11 to be knurled or reconditioned as the case may be.

The apparatus includes a base having a vertical post 21 mounted thereon to receive a support 22. The support 22 is centrally apertured for a shaft 23 which is recessed at 24 to receive the reduced end portions 11 and 12. A guide arm 25 is positioned to partially support the article 10 While being knurled.

The support 22 is provided with three equally spaced parallel apertures 28 to receive eccentric bushings 29 adjustable to any selected position about their axes and normally held in place by set screws 30. An outer portion 31 of each bushing is provided with marked graduations 32 extending in opposite directions from a zero position 33 and movable relative to a fixed pointer (not shown) so that the bushings may be adjusted to like positions in their apertures.

Spindles 35 are mounted for rocking movement in the bushings 29 and have eccentric portions 36 at like ends thereof to support knurling wheels 38 for rotation. The knurling Wheels are held on the eccentric ends of their spindles against displacement by suitable means shown at 39.

The right hand end of the shaft 23 has diametrically opposed flattened portions 40 to receive and form positive engagement with a handlever 42 and a latching element 43. interposed between the latching element 43 and the support 22 is a control element 45 supported by the shaft 23 and free to rock thereon. Enlarged heads 48 of the spindles 35 have flattened portions 49 disposed adiacent a reduced portion 50 of the control element 45. Pins 51 mounted in apertures 52 of the heads 48 have ball-like portions 53 disposed in sockets 54 of the control element 45 whereby rotation of the element 45 in either direction, distances limited by the possible movement of the portions 53 in the sockets, will rock the spindles 35 like limited distances. When portions of the outer ends of the sockets engage the junctures of the pins and ball like portions 53, the limits of the rotary motions of the spindles have been reached. A spring connected at 61 to the base 20 and to a pin 62 of the control element 45 normally urges the element clockwise (Fig- 2) to rock the spindles 35 to normally urge their knurling wheels toward the article.

A spring pressed plunger 68 carried by the control element 45 is normally urged outwardly toward the handle 42 to enter apertures 69 in the latching element 43. The apertures 62 have cam-like surfaces 74) at like sides thereof and shoulders 71 at the opposite sides thereof as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Considering now the operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed that the bushings 29 are in their desired like positions for the article 10 to be knurled. The apparatus, through the force of the spring 60, is normally in its closed or operating position. However, to open the apparatus so that an article to be knurled can be located in place, the operator moves the handle clockwise (looking from the right. Fig. l) causing rotation of the shaft 23 with the latching element 43 and through the positive connection of the latching and control. elements by the plunger 68 engaging the shoulder 71 of one of the apertures 69, the control element 45 is rotated spring 60, rocking the spindles through their respective ball and socket connections 5354 to move the knurling Wheels away from the shaft. While the apparatus is held in this position, an article to be knurled may be located in place with the reduced end extending in the recess 24 where a plate 73, mounted in the recess, will form positive driving connection with the article.

The operator may then release the clockwise holding force on the handle to hold the apparatus open, allowing the spring 60 to apply its force to the mechanism adapted to move the spindles 35 with the knurling wheels into their operating positions. The operator then rotates the handlever counterclockwise (looking from the right, Fig. l continuing this operation for a suitable length of tuneto cause the knurling wheels to perform their reconditioning or complete knurling operations. When the knurling operation has been completed, movement of the handle in the reverse or clockwise direction will cause the spring pressed plunger 68' to find a shoulder 71 of one of the apertures 69 positively connecting the handle to the control element 45 and again open the apparatus for the removal of the completed article and the insertion of a new article. When the apparatus is used to recondition previously knurled articles the knurling wheels are automatically seated in the original knurls.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for knurling an article comprising a rotatable shaft recessed at one end for interconnection with a portion of an article to be knurled to cause the article to rotate with the shaft, a knurling wheel rotatably mounted adjacent the article, driving means actuable to rotate the. shaft with the article in one direction whereby the wheel will knurl a portion of the article, and means actuable by rotation of the shaft. in the other direction to move the Wheel free of the article.

2. An apparatus for knurling an article comprising a rotatable shaft recessed at one end for interconnection with a portion of an. article to be knurled to cause the article to rotate with the shaft, a knurling wheel, a spindle supported for rocking movement having an eccentric portion for rotatably supporting the knurling wheel, means normally urging rocking movement of the spindle in one direction to urge the knurling. wheel into engagement with a portion of the article, a driving means actuable in one direction to rotate the shaft and article, and a mechanism operable by movement of the driving means in the other direction to rock the spindle to move the knurling wheel away from the article.

3. An apparatus for knurling an article comprising a rotatable shaft recessed at one end for interconnection with a portion of an article to be knurled to cause the article to rotate with the shaft, a knurling wheel, a spindle supported for rocking movement having an eccentric portion for rotatably supporting the knurling: wheel, an eccentric bushing for the spindle supported for rocking movement to vary the position of the spindle and knurling wheel relative to the article, means normally urging rocking movement of the spindle in one direction to urge the knurling wheel into engagement with a portion of the article, a driving means actuable in. one direction to rotate the shaft and article, and a mechanism operable by movement of the driving means in the other direction to rock the spindle to move the knurling wheel away from the article.

4. An apparatus for knurling an article comprising a rotatable shaft recessed at one end for interconnection with. a portion of an article tobe knurled to cause the article to rotate with the shaft, a knurling wheel, a spindle supported for rocking movement having an eecentric portion for rotatably supporting the knurling wheel, an eccentric bushing for the spindle supported for rocking movement to vary the position of the spindle and knurl ng wheel relative to the article, a dial on the pllShlHg Wlth marked graduations to indicate given rockmg motions of the bushing necessary for given positions of the knurling wheel relative to the article, means normally urg1ng rocking movement. of the spindle in one direction to urge the knurling wheel into engagement with a portion of the article, a driving means actuable in one direction to rotate the shaft and article, and a mechanism operable by movement of the driving means in the other direction to rock the spindle to move the knurling wheel away from the article.

5. An apparatus for knurling an article comprising a rotatable shaft recessed at one end for interconnection with a portion of an article to be knurled to cause the article to rotate with the shaft, a knurling wheel, a spindle supported for rocking movement having an eccentric portion for rotatably supporting the knurling wheel, means normally urging rocking movement of the spindle in one direction to urge the knurling wheel into engagement with a portion of the article, means operatively connected to the. spindle to limit its rocking movement to limit movement of the knurling wheel toward the article, a driving means. actuablein one direction to rotate the shaft and article, and a mechanism operable by movement of the driving means in the other 'dlI'CClZlQH to rock the spindle. to move. the knurling wheel away from. the article.

6. An apparatus for knurling an article comprising a rotatable shaft recessed. at one end for interconnection arportion of an article to. be knurled to cause the article to rotate. with the shaft, knurling wheels disposed at spaced positions about. the article, spindles supported for rocking movements about their axes and having eccentric portions for rotatably supporting the knurling wheels ln like variable positions relative to the. article, a mechamsm operativelyconnected to the spindles normally urging them to rock in one direction to simultaneously urge the knurling. wheels into engagement with 8 130111011 of the article, a driving means actuable in one direction to rotate the shaft and article, and a mechanism operable by movementv of the driving means. in the other direction to rock the spindles to simultaneously move the knurling wheels away from the article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 191,220 Blakey May 29,1877 656,952 Dorn-heim Aug.v 28, 190.0 964,272 Kaiserman July 12, 191.0 1,422,649 Bach July 11, 1922 1,883,080 Stull et a1. Oct. 18, 1932 2,011,761 Handel Aug. 20, 1935 2,285,688 Stull June 9, 1942 

